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Nov 2011

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878

Would anyone like to explain to me what the purpose of signing Cody Wallace was??? They keep filling the roster with guys who dont belong here. Then they have to scramble around and hire guys of the street when there is an injury. Did they expect no one to.get hurt? What team have they watched the last 2 years.

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Mar 2008

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11,931

Originally Posted by ChineseCrash

Doesn't matter. He can deal with the 8 man fronts and the predictable Art II offense as bad as Pouncey did.

I actually agree with the Chinese version of Crash. The thing is this, as long as this OL sees 7-8 men in the box, they will struggle. Ben will struggle. You must take the top off the D to be effective in todays NFL. You need other teams to respect your deep ball.

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Sep 2008

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275

[URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/PIT/pittsburgh-steelers"]Steelers[/URL] center [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1273188/maurkice-pouncey"]Maurkice Pouncey[/URL] [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23544120/maurkice-pouncey-larry-foote-facing-surgery-could-be-lost-for-season"]was lost for the season[/URL] less than four minutes into Sunday's Week 1 game against the [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/TEN/tennessee-titans"]Titans[/URL]. He suffered a knee injury at the hands of his teammate, [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1631907/david-decastro"]David DeCastro[/URL], leaving Pittsburgh scrambling to add depth to an already-thin offensive line. On Monday, the Steelers and Fernando Velasco agreed to terms on a one-year deal, the team announced.Velasco, who started 16 games for the Titans last season, can play center and guard.
"[He] was the best available center-guard," Sirius XM's [URL="https://twitter.com/caplannfl/status/377137785250910209"]Adam Caplan[/URL] wrote, "so [it's] a solid move for the Steelers. He could wind up starting this season for the team."
Velasco ranked 11th last season in [URL="https://www.profootballfocus.com"]ProFootballFocus.com[/URL]'s rankings for all centers, one spot ahead of -- you guessed it -- Maurkice Pouncey. But he was released 10 days ago after Rob Turner won the center job.

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Aug 2013

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2,824

Velasco ranked 11th last season in ProFootballFocus.com's rankings for all centers, one spot ahead of -- you guessed it -- Maurkice Pouncey. But he was released 10 days ago after Rob Turner won the center job.

Finally, the first decent personnel decision in recent memory.. even if it was by default. you get a guy that's as good or better than pouncey...for less money. Will be curious to see what that means for the O line... going into next year. If Velasco plays up to his abilities.. that gives the steelers some options in the interior.

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Jan 2009

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452

Originally Posted by TD386Steel

[URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/PIT/pittsburgh-steelers"]Steelers[/URL] center [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1273188/maurkice-pouncey"]Maurkice Pouncey[/URL] [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23544120/maurkice-pouncey-larry-foote-facing-surgery-could-be-lost-for-season"]was lost for the season[/URL] less than four minutes into Sunday's Week 1 game against the [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/TEN/tennessee-titans"]Titans[/URL]. He suffered a knee injury at the hands of his teammate, [URL="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1631907/david-decastro"]David DeCastro[/URL], leaving Pittsburgh scrambling to add depth to an already-thin offensive line. On Monday, the Steelers and Fernando Velasco agreed to terms on a one-year deal, the team announced.Velasco, who started 16 games for the Titans last season, can play center and guard.
"[He] was the best available center-guard," Sirius XM's [URL="https://twitter.com/caplannfl/status/377137785250910209"]Adam Caplan[/URL] wrote, "so [it's] a solid move for the Steelers. He could wind up starting this season for the team."
Velasco ranked 11th last season in [URL="https://www.profootballfocus.com"]ProFootballFocus.com[/URL]'s rankings for all centers, one spot ahead of -- you guessed it -- Maurkice Pouncey. But he was released 10 days ago after Rob Turner won the center job.

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May 2008

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Cincitucky (Stinktown, U.S.A.)

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4,166

Originally Posted by 7 UP

Would anyone like to explain to me what the purpose of signing Cody Wallace was??? They keep filling the roster with guys who dont belong here. Then they have to scramble around and hire guys of the street when there is an injury. Did they expect no one to.get hurt? What team have they watched the last 2 years.

Wallace was signed because he can back up all three interior positions and he was cheap. Velasco was signed because he can start. If we had more cap space, we may have signed Velasco in the first place. But, even if we did, we probably would have back filled the position with a Cody Wallace type after Pouncey went down.

Wallace may get the start (with Beachum as the swing backup) this week though because Velasco likely will not be ready. Also, Beachum could start with Wallace and Whimper as the game day backups.

Even if Bill Belichick was getting an atomic wedgie, his face would look exactly the same.

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May 2008

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3,666

The Steelers got very lucky Velasco was still available. Velasco & Caldwell were two I was considering along with Kevin Mathews. Out of those three I believe they got the best one. Pouncey is a great football player. He is a big loss but he is at a plug & play position. Velasco will be more than adequate after he develops chemistry & gets the playbook down. Once he is able to call protections on his own the C position will be fine for 2013. I think the Steelers will have to win some ugly close games but I see about a 2-3 week window for Velasco to be completely settled in. He may start against the Bengals but BB & the G's will help him with protection for the first couple of games.

I feel Foote's injury will turn out to be "360" situation. They will miss his leadership on the field and his diagnosis presnap early...But his role will be filled. My first choice would be to let Williams play. We will suffer through some growing pains... But I believe he & the ILB position will come full circle after he logs some starts. By midpoint of the season, we may very well view Williams as an upgrade. This may happen with Wilson in there or if they sign Sly or sign McFadden from the Raiders PS or Bring back Brian Rolle & move Timmons. I felt Rolle was the #2 Mack & McFadden/Williams were the #2 Buck. So why were Rolle & McFadden released? Your backup linebackers have to play ST and play it well. Rolle was not motivated to play STs and Wilson played better than McFadden on STs. Williams looked pretty good but showed some good upside at his position. So is that odd to cut a backup who is further up the positional depth chart in lieu of one who excels on ST? We all know that answer...The ST Co has a say. I know one thing for sure now. After watching the Preseason & the little Foote played in game 1...I can see Foote was on the field because of his DL soaked mind. It is his understanding of the defense & recognition that keeps him on the field. You might go as far as saying he is there to put others in a position to make a play. Well...Time for a better athlete to take "shotgun" and develop. That is usually the best way to accelerate the process and squash the learning curve. You just hate taking that road at the misfortune of a starter.

Howlings injury may be just a next man up scenario. He looked to be a good pick-up. He looked good positional and had return ability. The Steelers may have lucked out with Jones. He can give you that same player and could become more. I think his timetable of getting an understanding of the O is close. He may start to become a factor in the next couple of games as he sees more snaps because of this. I still have his arrow pointing up. Dwyer was a surprise to the point that Redman didn't challenge him on the field because he was injured. I would have kept Dwyer over Redman but the staff has been around Dwyer & his worth ethic since he got here. Impressions over time play a factor. Neither Redman or Dwyer are STs standouts and Bell won't be playing STs. You just can't stack RBs on a team that don't play ST. I understand one of Redman or Dwyer being cut but I thought them picked the wrong one. Again, I'm sure what Dwyer did through off seasons and workouts played a factor but I thought Dwyer won it on the field against Redman but I thought both of their efforts were less than desirable. Dwyer needs to look in the mirror now and ask that guy who he wants to be. When he takes the field...We will all see his answer. The Steelers won't be asking him again.

I won't say much about Suisham except that he is making the Steelers waste a roster spot. They have an adequate replacement until he heals but just unfortunate we have to carry 2 kickers with Bell & Miller as inactives.

I know the sky is falling for most but with the historic slow start to sprint seasons we have seen in the past...I'm gonna give it 2-3 more games before I fire the whole staff, dismiss KC, & call Bill Cowher. There is some ugly games ahead until the pieces to the puzzle fit in...But the Steelers will need to find a way to win them. If those pieces don't fit...It will be a long season.